The unfortunate condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects as many as 24 million people in the United States and is estimated to be responsible for as many as 100,000 deaths per year, and as a result, drug companies have been working feverishly to come up with medications to help manage the disease.
Two of the most prominent medications to hit the market in recent years are known as Spiriva and Atrovent, and each is designed to curtail the effects of COPD in patients. These medications are taken as an inhalant, and they are designed to help clear the air passageways in a persons respiratory system to allow for easier breathing.
Unfortunately, a recent study conducted at Wake Forest University has resulted in a serious warning flag being sent up to the public at large. In short, the study showed that those who use these medications indicated a much higher risk of suffering from heart attacks and strokes, and this news is creating waves in the pharmaceutical industry and in the world of medicine.
Study Specifics related to COPD
The study, administered at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, was in actuality a meta-study of 15 smaller tests that involved a total of 15,000 patients, most of whom were older in age, who took these drugs for a period of 30 days. The results were statistically startling.
Of those who took these medications, there proved to be an increased risk of a heart attack by 53 percent, cardiovascular death by 80 percent and stroke by 46 percent.
Additional Cardiovascular Problems
Aside from the extremely troubling study results, there remains a high degree of urgency to find not only a mode of management, but also a cure, for COPD. As of now, there is no known cure, and the symptoms include difficulty breathing that would be similar to those symptoms in a patient who suffers from emphysema and/or asthma.
Although no governmental action has yet been taken, the authors of the study have strongly urged patients to take initial steps to control potential heart problems by not smoking, exercising safely and eating a healthy diet. The authors also urged doctors administering these medications to monitor their patients closely and to perform regular exams to seek any potential symptoms that could indicate any sort of cardiovascular problems.
Your Next Step if injured or hurt from Spiriva and Atrovent:
If you have used either of these medications and have suffered as a result, you need to contact a defective drugs attorney as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation. You could have legal rights and options available to you depending on your situation, so get the process of making a sound decision started today.
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